Black Ferns

It's a massive win for the Black Ferns! They ran in 8 tries throughout the 80 minutes, only letting the Aussies onto the board in the final minute of the ...

While the Black Ferns ran in another two tries to take their score beyond 50, the Australians never stopped trying and had some success as the game went on. With Australia scrambling in defence, Cocksedge summed up the situation well, putting Demant through a gap as a defender tried to jam in on Cocksedge. Hooker Georgia Ponsonby was particularly impressive throughout the contest, with her lineout throwing on target and she worked hard to get over the ball at the breakdown, earning turnovers and pressuring the Australians. In the playmaking roles, Ruahei Demant and Kendra Cocksedge pulled the strings well, while wingers Ruby Tui and Ayeshan Leti-I'iga showed they could threaten any time they had the ball in their hands. At times, they lacked depth and timing on their runs which saw some forward passes float into their play, but for the most part they were firing. Just a year before the World Cup, they went without a win on their northern tour – well beaten in all four tests.

The Wallaroos will be looking for an historic win over the Black Ferns as they travel to Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.

With time running, a great pass from Emily Robinson set up one final attack as the Wallaroos got a late consolation try to Piper Duck. The 34-year-old’s show and go caught the Wallaroos’ defence napping as she dived over the line to give the Black Ferns a 26-0 lead at the break. Piper Duck got a late try for the Wallaroos as they struggled to shut down the hosts' attack, looking to bounce back in Adelaide next week.

Experienced halfback shows her quality as Black Ferns wrap up Laurie O'Reilly Cup for another year.

It appeared there was nothing she couldn’t do on a clear and windless night at Orangetheory Stadium. It involved halfback Kendra Cocksedge, the life and soul of this team, of course. The Black Ferns’ forwards were fantastic at set piece and with their intricate short passing in support play, and the midfield of Amy du Plessis and Theresa Fitzpatrick were always aware of attacking opportunities and occasionally brutal on defence outside the excellent No.10 Ruahei Demant, but it was Cocksedge who bound everything together with her quickness of feet and hands and almost supernatural ability to be a move ahead of everyone else.

Kendra Cocksedge of the Black Ferns scores a try in the Laurie O'Reilly Cup rugby match against Australia, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand, 20 ...

Kendra Cocksegde and Ayesha Leti-I'iga starred in the backline, while 2021 Black Ferns Player of the Year Kennedy Simon and Charmaine McMenamin both returned from injury to get amongst the action. In debuts, Tyla Nathan-Wong and Awhina Tangen-Wainohu both came off the bench to earn their first caps for the Black Ferns. After pandemic restrictions curtailed their fixtures over the last two years, the Black Ferns and Wallaroos once again battled it out in the opening test of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup tonight at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.

New Zealand ran in seven tries in a dominant performance at Christchurch.

In the playmaking roles, Ruahei Demant and Kendra Cocksedge pulled the strings well, while wingers Ruby Tui and Ayeshan Leti-I'iga showed they could threaten ...

While the Black Ferns ran in another two tries to take their score beyond 50, the Australians never stopped trying and had some success as the game went on. With Australia scrambling in defence, Cocksedge summed up the situation well, putting Demant through a gap as a defender tried to jam in on Cocksedge. Hooker Georgia Ponsonby was particularly impressive throughout the contest, with her lineout throwing on target and she worked hard to get over the ball at the breakdown, earning turnovers and pressuring the Australians. In the playmaking roles, Ruahei Demant and Kendra Cocksedge pulled the strings well, while wingers Ruby Tui and Ayeshan Leti-I'iga showed they could threaten any time they had the ball in their hands. At times, they lacked depth and timing on their runs which saw some forward passes float into their play, but for the most part they were firing. Just a year before the World Cup, they went without a win on their northern tour – well beaten in all four tests.

The Black Ferns have produced a dominant display to defeat the Wallaroos 52-5 in Christchurch, with Kiwi halves Kendra Cocksedge and Ruahei Demant ...

The hosts picked up where they left off as Ayesha Leti-I’iga sprinted over to score a great individual try. With time running out, a great pass from Emily Robinson set up one final attack as the Wallaroos got a late consolation try to Piper Duck. Replacement hooker Luka Connor capped off the dominant performance with a late try from the rolling maul to bring up the half century.

The Black Ferns have opened the Laurie O'Reilly Cup series with a resounding 52-5 defeat of the Australian Wallaroos at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium.

It was captain and No 10 Ruahei Demant who opened the account, firing through a gap after a Kennedy Simon burst, which in turn came from a slick lineout. Seven weeks out from the opening night of Rugby World Cup, this was a solid step forward for this team. The star turn was the veteran halfback Kendra Cocksedge, in just her second and possibly final Test match in her adopted city.

The Black Ferns have dominantly beaten the Wallaroos 52-5 in the first of two tests in the O'Reilly Cup series.

Kendra Cocksegde and Ayesha Leti-I'iga starred in the backline, while 2021 Black Ferns Player of the Year Kennedy Simon and Charmaine McMenamin both returned from injury to get amongst the action. The Black Ferns have dominantly beaten the Wallaroos 52-5 in the first of two tests in the O'Reilly Cup series. After pandemic restrictions curtailed their fixtures over the last two years, the Black Ferns and Wallaroos once again battled it out in the opening test of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup tonight at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.

The Black Ferns would have gone close to scoring a century against the Aussies had they not been wasteful.

But there will be a good review on Monday and Tuesday, and we’ll see if we can make some improvements over in Adelaide.” If quality local sport journalism is important to you, become a Stuff supporter today. A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. “We played really well up front, which I think would have been a surprise to them. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment. Gave a few penalties away at the breakdown which was disappointing, but we can fix that." “And I'm being truthful about that. We've still got a lot of work to do.” “We'd had a really good week, working really hard on playing an expansive game. “I thought defence was absolutely outstanding. That starts with a review of their first test in Christchurch since 2017, before the Black Ferns head to Adelaide to play the Wallaroos on Saturday night in their final test before the World Cup. *